Ludwig
The Romans were both of those. They treated rebellions very harshly, but considered the Jews to be excellent colonists and gave them land and authority in newly conquered territories which they wished to bring into the 'civilised' areas of the Roman Empire.
GA41
Difficult to say, as ancient times covers a tremendous span of time. I would say the Assyrians were the most hostile. They conquered both the northern kingdom of Israel and Judea and carried them off. They sent their own people back into Jewish Territory in the north. They were known for their brutality. During the Maccabean period in Jewish History, the Jews approached Rome to establish a treaty. The Jews became a "friend of Rome", only later did it become a Roman Providence.
I believe the Persians were probably the most benevolent to the Jews. It was the Persian king who allowed Ezra and Nehemiah to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple and the walls. Ezra is often looked at as the Father of Judaism, because he re-established Jewish worship practices. In a sense, you could say the Persians saved the Jewish Culture by allowing them to rebuild Jerusalem.
Adullah M
Strange enough , the Jews themselves become hostile to their own people , for instance Jesus Christ was from the family of Israeli or being Jewish, but the Jews themselves turn against him, then plan with the Roman to crucified him. John the Baptist and Zakareya his father were being killed by the Jewish rulers of Jerusalem , by chopping his head off and cut him to two pieces respectively, etc. That is why this gentleman start searching for this truth and found this out, Michael H. Hart
User
Which ancient times?
But I would say:
most hostile: Assyrians
friendliest: Lebanese
Anonymous
Most friendly: the Persians
Most hostile: the Romans
Several of answers suggest the Assyrians as the most hostile which is a good answer. However, I wouldn't really consider the Israelites of Samaria as "Jews". At that stage the Israelite's religion was still rather more henotheistic than monotheistic. And the Assyrians never captured Jerusalem. It wasn't really until the Judahites were conquered by the Babylonians and taken into captivity that Judaism as the religion we know developed.